In a recent interview with Mojo magazine, Fleetwood Mac drummer and co-namesake Mick Fleetwood admitted the band had been a bit “one-legged” in the 16 years it carried on without keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie. If that was the case, Fleetwood Mac was back on two legs, standing tall at the Forum on Black Friday for what was — according to a photo montage from its ’70s heyday proudly displayed in the Forum Club — its 13th appearance at the now remodeled venue.
Given that this was the group’s first date back in L.A. with Christine McVie and its history with the building, Friday’s show had all the trappings of a special event and Fleetwood Mac didn’t disappoint.
Opening with “The Chain,” the only song on the band’s 1977 blockbuster Rumours written by all five members, Fleetwood Mac at first celebrated its unity before turning the spotlight on the returning McVie, who sang lead on the even bigger Rumours era hit, “You Make Loving Fun.”
With all due respect to Fleetwood, we’d argue that Fleetwood Mac was more like a three-legged dog without Christine McVie, with frontwoman Stevie Nicks and frontman and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham holding up the front end while Fleetwood and fellow original member, bassist John McVie, together, supporting part of back. At the Forum, it was clear just how crucial Christine McVie’s role is, not only providing keyboards (although the band was supplemented by an additional keyboardist/guitarist and guitarist) and backing vocals for Nicks and Buckingham (the band was also assisted by three female backing vocalists), but providing an earthy lead vocal presence to counter Nicks’ sometimes out-three gypsy visions and Buckingham’s hyper emotionalism. And, it was that variety that made Friday’s show such a joy.
Christine McVie’s initial run in the spotlight was followed by Nicks’ turn on “Dreams,” then Buckingham on “Second Hand News,” back to Nicks with “Rhiannon,” extended with the singer altering her phrasing from the recorded version, proving this was no mere carbon copy of the record. The Tusk album track “I Know I’m Not Wrong” was a brief interlude from the hit parade before the title track, complete with video of the USC Marching Band performing the song on the video screen, for which Christine McVie added accordion and Buckingham replicated the elephant walk with guitar in tow.
The first third of the show was stacked so heavily with classic hits, it made you wonder if the band could sustain the momentum for the remainder of the gig, but that proved not to be a problem, as it used different configurations and vocalists to keep it interesting.
And the hits kept coming, as well, including McVie’s “Say That You Love Me,” the band’s first-ever top 40 hit after the veteran British blues band was revitalized with the addition of Nicks and Buckingham. After Nicks sang “Seven Wonders,” she gave a shout out to American Horror Story, which last season featured her in a cameo and the song, prompting the band to add it to the set.
Emotional highlights were natural to Buckingham and Nicks sharing the stage, Buckingham offering a startling acoustic reading of “Big Love,” after noting how the song’s meaning has changed over the years and then Nicks dedicating the ballad “Landslide” to “her fairy goddaughters” before the Forum’s roof sparkled as she sang.
Nicks also took the spotlight in “Gypsy” and “Gold Dust Woman.” The former was proceeded by a story about her early years in the Bay Area and remaining true to your dreams, while the latter had her donning a gold shawl and offering a freeform dance as she teetered on her high heels while the band provided a psychedelic interlude.
Towards the end of the set, the monster hit “Go Your Own Way” came off as a celebratory jam, with Nicks and Buckingham facing the drum kit and Fleetwood responding with a devilish grin.
During the encore, “World Turning” was punctuated with the hoariest of all arena-rock clichés — the drum solo. Yet Fleetwood made it tolerable by turning it into a call-and-response exercise with the audience, spouting gibberish and sporting wacky facial expressions between mercilessly pounding his kit.
“Don’t Stop” had all three main voices joining in unison and also seemed to be a theme for the two-and-half hour show and this 2014 tour. After Nicks took it down with “Silver Springs” and Buckingham (on piano) accompanied McVie on “Songbird,” Nicks returned to offer the story of Christine McVie’s return to the band. Then Fleetwood returned with his two young daughters in tow to once again thank the crowd and return the love. It was almost as if they didn’t want to stop.
Fleetwood Mac returns to the Forum Saturday and Dec. 6 and hits the Honda Center on Dec. 7.
Set List:
The Chain
You Make Loving Fun
Dreams
Second Hand News
Rhiannon
Everywhere
I Know I’m Not Wrong
Tusk
Sisters of the Moon
Say You Love Me
Seven Wonders
Big Love
Landslide
Never Going Back Again
Over My Head
Gypsy
Little Lies
Gold Dust Woman
I’m So Afraid
Go Your Own Way
Encore:
World Turning
Don’t Stop
Silver Springs
Encore 2:
Songbird
The Bottom Line
The classic ’70s lineup is complete again with the return of Christine McVie after a 16-year absence.
Venue
The Forum
Inglewood, Calif.
(Friday, Nov. 28)
Twitter: @CraigRosen
Craig Rosen / The Hollywood Reporter / Sunday, November 30, 2014
